At This Battle, No Competition

JASON KNAPFEL LOCAL SCENE

November 26, 2004|JASON KNAPFEL LOCAL SCENE

Music critics are often accused of being a miserable lot. Curmudgeons, all. Unfortunately, this column won't change that perception.

Ah, yes, the battle of the bands. It's a time-honored tradition more akin to competitive sport than artistic expression. While I tend to frown on turning art into a competition, I decided to check out last week's battle for a spot in this year's Buzz Bake Sale, the annual concert sponsored by The Buzz (WPBZ FM 103.1).

This year's lineup of national acts includes local punk-pop heroes New Found Glory, Korn and Taking Back Sunday. In an attempt to jump on board, five South Florida bands squabbled for the dangled carrot of playing a single show in front of more than their usual dozen friends at the bar.

I left before the winners were announced. But I already had a pretty good idea of which were the better acts before I got to Club Ovation. Seeing the lineup of El, Doorway 27, Absolute Asylum, Led, Curse Icon and 5th Gear confirmed my suspicions.

El, South Florida's best Brit-pop band, opened the show. They could have closed the show at this point. El took home the prize as far as I'm concerned. In fact, the show was book-ended by the best bands. 5th Gear may be a dead ringer for early '90s grunge, but a second generation Stone Temple Pilots is more palatable than most of today's teen garage bands.

The show itself played second fiddle to a very minor skirmish that night. In fact, it served as a small metaphor as to why "the establishment" -- be it major labels or, in this case, a South Florida club -- just doesn't get it.

A local musician was passing out fliers for a future show at another establishment. This turned out to be against Club Ovation's policy. You see, they don't want the competition promoted at their club. On the surface, it sounds like a logical rule. In reality, by stifling people who are nurturing the local scene, they only hurt themselves. There needs to be a sense of community. This isn't McDonald's vs. Burger King. If the competition succeeds, guess what? Those bands forming followings at other clubs will bring them when they play at Club Ovation.

The scene was absurd. The house security escorted the offending musician to the door and told him to leave his fliers in the car. Is this homeland security?

A large-scale establishment like Club Ovation is needed to bring in high-profile acts and larger audiences for local bands. So far they've done a great job. I just wish they would be a little less shortsighted in their policies regarding locals promoting other shows. If the individual clubs think more as a community and less as a rigorous self-serving corporation, we all benefit.

And they can avoid the large scrap heap of failed South Florida clubs before them.

Don't forget `em

After four years in South Florida, Remember the Ocean's final show before relocating to Nashville, Tenn., is Saturday at Dada, 52 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach, 561-330-3232.